The artist Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has sold his expansive Bighorn Mountain Ranch in Wyoming for $16.995 million. The transaction marks a significant step away from his once-ambitious plans for a creative and residential hub in the state.
The 6,713-acre property was sold back to the family who originally owned it, bringing a multi-year chapter of celebrity ownership to a close. West had purchased the ranch in 2019 for $14.495 million.
Key Takeaways
- Kanye West sold the Bighorn Mountain Ranch for $16.995 million, realizing a $2.5 million profit before expenses.
- The buyers are members of the Flitner family, who originally homesteaded the land in 1906 and sold it to West in 2019.
- The sale documents were reportedly notarized in Zurich by West's wife, Bianca Censori.
- West's second Wyoming property, the Monster Lake Ranch, remains on the market with an asking price of $12 million.
A Profitable But Quiet Exit
The sale of the Bighorn Mountain Ranch concludes Ye's ownership of the vast property located near Greybull, Wyoming. The transaction, finalized for nearly $17 million, represents a $2.5 million gain from his initial investment six years ago.
Interestingly, the property was not publicly listed at the time of the sale. The original owners, the Flitner family, learned of its availability through private channels. Pam Flitner, who repurchased the ranch with her husband Greg, described the discovery as a "fluke."
International Transaction Details
An unusual detail of the sale is that the official documents were notarized in Zurich, Switzerland. The notarization was completed by Bianca Censori, West's wife, indicating the international nature of the artist's current business dealings.
The sale signals a definitive shift away from the grand vision West once promoted for his Wyoming properties, which included plans for architectural projects and music studios. Now, one of his two ranches has been divested, and the other remains for sale.
Inside the Sprawling Mountain Retreat
Bighorn Mountain Ranch is a significant holding, spanning over 6,700 acres. Its primary appeal lies in its seclusion and natural beauty, as it is completely surrounded by Bureau of Land Management and National Forest lands.
The property is well-equipped with lodging and amenities, designed to accommodate numerous guests. It includes several distinct living areas:
- The Lodge at Bald Ridge: A main log home with five bedrooms and four bathrooms.
- Snowshoe Lodge: A three-bedroom, three-bath home with an attached garage for vehicles and ATVs.
- Multiple Cabins: Three cabins near the main lodge can sleep up to six guests each, while three additional cabins accompany the Snowshoe Lodge.
- Cow Camp: A more rustic, traditional homestead cabin that pays homage to the property's origins.
The main lodge features a three-story layout that includes a wet bar in the basement and an adjoining walk-in sauna, providing year-round comfort and entertainment options.
The ranch is also a haven for wildlife, with an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 elk frequenting the area. Creeks running through the property offer private fishing opportunities, adding to its appeal as a remote natural escape.
A Return to Family Heritage
For the Flitner family, the repurchase is a return to their roots. The family first homesteaded the property, which they called Cow Camp, back in 1906. For over a century, it remained in their care before the 2019 sale to West.
"It was not listed publicly at first," Pam Flitner told the Cowboy State Daily. "It was just honestly a fluke that we found out it was listed, and then it was taken down again."
The family noted that while West's ambitious plans for the ranch never materialized, the existing structures were left largely intact. Unlike reports from his other property, no major buildings were demolished on Bighorn Mountain Ranch.
"He did not knock down any of the buildings," Pam Flitner confirmed. "They may need a little TLC, but they're all solid."
Local sentiment towards West's time in Wyoming appears to have been generally positive. Greg Flitner shared that many locals found him to be a "really, really good guy" who was "on task a lot of the time."
The Future of Ye's Wyoming Footprint
With Bighorn Mountain Ranch sold, attention now turns to West's remaining Wyoming asset: the Monster Lake Ranch. Located about 100 miles away in Cody, this 3,885-acre property was his first purchase in the state, acquired for $14 million in September 2019.
That property is currently listed for sale with an asking price of $12 million, a potential $2 million loss from its purchase price. This suggests a strong desire by West to fully exit his investments in the state.
The sale of the Bighorn ranch, especially back to its original owners, marks a quiet end to a period of high-profile speculation about what the artist intended to build in the remote landscapes of Wyoming. For now, it seems the Wyoming dream is over.
